In space startup method for nuclear fusion rocket engines
Abstract
The invention is for a startup system for nuclear fusion engines in space. The combustion of hydrogen and oxygen produces heat that is used by a heat engine to produce electricity. This can be supplemented by electricity from other operating engines. The exhaust from the combustion is condensed and electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen once the engine is in operation. This provides a constant source of energy for future startups. The engine is started up at partial power in electricity generation mode and this power replaces the power from the combustion as it grows. The combustor uses the same heat engine as the nuclear engine uses for power generation.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. (PPPL), Princeton, NJ (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1525050
- Patent Number(s):
- 10229756
- Application Number:
- 14/466,425
- Assignee:
- Princeton Satellite Systems, Inc. (Plainsboro, NJ); The Trustees of Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F02 - COMBUSTION ENGINES F02K - JET-PROPULSION PLANTS
G - PHYSICS G21 - NUCLEAR PHYSICS G21B - FUSION REACTORS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-09CH11466
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2014-08-22
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 08 HYDROGEN; 30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
Citation Formats
Paluszek, Michael A., Ham, Eric M., Razin, Yosef, and Cohen, Samuel A. In space startup method for nuclear fusion rocket engines. United States: N. p., 2019.
Web.
Paluszek, Michael A., Ham, Eric M., Razin, Yosef, & Cohen, Samuel A. In space startup method for nuclear fusion rocket engines. United States.
Paluszek, Michael A., Ham, Eric M., Razin, Yosef, and Cohen, Samuel A. Tue .
"In space startup method for nuclear fusion rocket engines". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1525050.
@article{osti_1525050,
title = {In space startup method for nuclear fusion rocket engines},
author = {Paluszek, Michael A. and Ham, Eric M. and Razin, Yosef and Cohen, Samuel A.},
abstractNote = {The invention is for a startup system for nuclear fusion engines in space. The combustion of hydrogen and oxygen produces heat that is used by a heat engine to produce electricity. This can be supplemented by electricity from other operating engines. The exhaust from the combustion is condensed and electrolyzed to produce hydrogen and oxygen once the engine is in operation. This provides a constant source of energy for future startups. The engine is started up at partial power in electricity generation mode and this power replaces the power from the combustion as it grows. The combustor uses the same heat engine as the nuclear engine uses for power generation.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2019},
month = {3}
}
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